pinches.”
“It pinches all round, for that matter,” said Polly, “for it's only half Sunday
without you, but you know we should do to other people as we should like they
should do to us; and I know very well what I should like if my mother was
dying; and Jerry, dear, I am sure it won't break the Sabbath; for if pulling a poor
beast or donkey out of a pit would not spoil it, I am quite sure taking poor Dinah
would not do it.”
“Why, Polly, you are as good as the minister, and so, as I've had my Sunday-
morning sermon early to-day, you may go and tell Dinah that I'll be ready for her
as the clock strikes ten; but stop—just step round to butcher Braydon's with my
compliments, and ask him if he would lend me his light trap; I know he never
uses it on the Sunday, and it would make a wonderful difference to the horse.”
Away she went, and soon returned, saying that he could have the trap and
welcome.
“All right,” said he; “now put me up a bit of bread and cheese, and I'll be back
in the afternoon as soon as I can.”
“And I'll have the meat pie ready for an early tea instead of for dinner,” said
Polly; and away she went, while he made his preparations to the tune of “Polly's
the woman and no mistake”, of which tune he was very fond.
I was selected for the journey, and at ten o'clock we started, in a light, high-
wheeled gig, which ran so easily that after the four-wheeled cab it seemed like
nothing.
It was a fine May day, and as soon as we were out of the town, the sweet air,
the smell of the fresh grass, and the soft country roads were as pleasant as they
used to be in the old times, and I soon began to feel quite fresh.
Dinah's family lived in a small farmhouse, up a green lane, close by a meadow
with some fine shady trees; there were two cows feeding in it. A young man
asked Jerry to bring his trap into the meadow, and he would tie me up in the
cowshed; he wished he had a better stable to offer.
“If your cows would not be offended,” said Jerry, “there is nothing my horse
would like so well as to have an hour or two in your beautiful meadow; he's
quiet, and it would be a rare treat for him.”
“Do, and welcome,” said the young man; “the best we have is at your service
for your kindness to my sister; we shall be having some dinner in an hour, and I
hope you'll come in, though with mother so ill we are all out of sorts in the
house.”